Thursday, 15 January 2009

'Creative Dialogues' at the Brewhouse, Taunton, Somerset, is a touring exhibition by members of the PSG until March 7th 2009. Each exhibitor shows work by themselves and of a chosen collaborator. The new work produced by both partners is as a result of this creative dialogue. A one day workshop is offered in February by Sian Martin and Jenny Blackburn, who, in collaboration with each other, will offer creative ways in which artists can work together to inspire each other. Please contact me if you're interested in booking a place on this workshop. Pieces by Rose Campbell and her collaborator, Moira Dickinson. Chris Berry on the far wall. Tricia Hubbard, a past student of mine in both City and Guilds and degree courses over the years, reads the catalogue. She is a well established artist, making textiles from her own special method of colouring and laminating tissue paper.

Three large panels by Kay Greenlees make a powerful statement on the wall opposite the Phillips Gallery entrance.

The Brewhouse Theatre and Art gallery offers two areas for exhibitions: the long walls within the cafe/bar area and also the Phillips gallery, a wonderful white space with high walls, leading off the cafe/bar area. The Creative Dialogues exhibition was hung in both areas. The photo above shows visitors starting to arrive for the Opening on January 10th.

The long wall opposite the cafe/bar shows many of the framed textile pieces. Left shows work by James Hunting and above by Mary Sleigh and Jan Evans.

The long wall of the cafe/bar area shows (from the right) work by Jane Lemon, Ruth Issett and Jan Evans and her collaborators.Ros Chilcott's three hangings based on her experience of working with a theatre group in her home village in the middle of Dartmoor. Linda Tudor's magnificent 'bowl' form sits on a plinth to the right, alongside a sculptural piece in iron by her collaborator.Jenny Bullen's work in blue and Amanda Clayton's in ecru hang from the ceiling and make full use of the vast gallery area.We clambered up enormous ladders to suspend items from the ceil to hang in the centre of the gallery. Tim worked from the top to attach the invisible thread from the ceiling structure and I went half way up to attach the textiles. Jenny Blackburn's large triple hanging lies on the heated floor to flatten out after packing before hanging. Jenny collaborated with Janet Stoyal, a past student, using pieces of her heat treated metal within the hanging. Visitors investigate my exhibits 'To Warm the Cockles of my Heart' and 'The Cockle Gatherer' a painting by my mother Iris Martin. A 'cloud' of suspended shibori shapes 'Shelter Collection' based on shells, hang from the ceiling in front of the wall pieces. I am persuaded to say a few words to open the exhibition and to say thank you to everyone involved in the hard work of unpacking and setting it all up.